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Appendix 7

U-boat Operations Summary

 

January 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
  Reeder U-124
No successes.

Nissen U-105
1 ship claimed sunk.

Mohr U-124
5 ships claimed sunk. Contacted and attacked by A/C.

Reichenbach U-127
No successes. Attacked by A/C.

Fechner U-164
Neutral Swede sunk. Sunk 6 Jan in 02°S - 40°W.

Schact U-507
2 ships claimed sunk. Sunk 13 Jan in 02°N - 40°W.

Bruns U-175
1 ship claimed sunk. Defenses "starved out" sub. Heavily damaged by A/C attack.
  3 Refuelers provisioned 23 subs.

Wolfbauer U-463 fueled 6 subs of group Delphin, operating on Gibraltar lane, on 11 Jan in 23°N - 41°W.

Wilamovitz U-459 fueled 3 subs of group Seehund, to operate off Capetown, on 27 Jan in 26°S - 01°W.

2 DD's discovered at Wilamovitz - Cagni (It. U/B) provisioning place on 12 Jan in 01°N - 21°W.

Neumann U-117 fueled 7 subs of group Spitz for further ops on 4-5 Jan in 44°N - 29°W. British unit believed to have been detailed to patrol this R/V area, "to chase subs on the basis of D/Fs from numerous messages sent by Neumann's provisioning group." (1108/7)

Neumann U-117 fueled 3 subs on 12-13 Jan in 43°N - 38°W for further convoy operations.

Markworth U-66 landed 3 agents near Port Etienne, Fr. W. Africa. Task completed by 23 Jan. One agent returned to sub; other 2 captured by French.

-- 135 --

February 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
  Lauzemis U-68
No report.

Schaefer U-183
No report.

Hartenstein U-156
Very strong A/C patrol off Port of Spain. Accurate attacks. Impossible to operate against convoys.

Neitzel U-510
No traffic. Little air recce.

Wissmann U-518
2 ships claimed sunk. Strong systematic A/C patrol off Bahia.

  Lassen U-160
1 ship claimed sunk. Strong A/C patrol and radar from Durban.

Wiebe U-516
5 ships claimed sunk. Day and night A/C patrol with radar.

Clausen U-182
1 ship claimed sunk.

Witte U-509
1 ship claimed sunk. No night A/C patrol. Good coordination of land and sea activity. Mines and patrol prevented getting in close to harbor.

Würdemann U-506
Many instances of radar from shore. No successes.

5 refuelers provisioned 39 subs.

Stiebler U-461 fueled 6 subs of of group Rochen on 25-28 Feb in 30°N - 35°W for further ops.

Wilamovitz U-459 fueled 1 Seehund sub on 4 Feb in 18°S - 09°W.

Czygan U-118 fueled 3 subs enroute to distant patrol areas on 7 Feb in 30°N - 23°W.

Schnoor U-460 fueled 10 subs of group Haudegan on 11-12 Feb in 51°N - 32°W. Subs then became group Taifun.

Schnoor U-460 fueled 5 subs of group Sturmboch on 22-25 Feb in 47°N - 37°W.

Vowe U-462 fueled 16 subs of North Atlantic groups for further operations on 25 Feb in 45°N - 38°W.

Berger U-87,
Koch U-304,
Looks U-264, and
Lamby U-437 to escort B/R Herborg home on 24 Feb. B/R sunk 24 Feb.

Czygan U-118 planted mines off Tangier 2 Feb.

Zech U-119 reported on enemy radar, air scouting and surface patrol in Denmark Straits for benefit of B/R returning to Germany.

-- 136 --

March 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
  Lauzemis U-68
2 ships claimed sunk. A/C and DD forced him to submerge, attacked with D/C.

Schaefer U-138
Nothing but neutrals. Day A/S patrol, no radar, no sea patrol.

Hartenstein U-156
Sunk 8 Mar in 13°N - 53°W

Piening U-155
No traffic in Gulf of Mexico.

Maus U-185
2 ships claimed sunk. Forced under by convoy escort. Damaged by D/Cs from DD. Bombed by air ship patrol reinforced off Cuba.

Neitzel U-510
7 ships claimed sunk. Damaged by military fire.

Wisemann U-158
2 ships claimed sunk. Forced to submerge by constant A/C patrol. No prospects in pursuit.

  Lassen U-160
7 ships claimed sunk. Reported no contact with ships on account of radar.

Wiebe U-156
1 ship claimed sunk. Day and night A/C with radar.

Clausen U-182
1 ship claimed sunk.

Würdemann U-506
2 ships claimed sunk.

Witte U-509
Constantly forced under by A/C radar.

4 refuelers provisioned 31 ships.

Vowe U-462 fueled 8 subs from group Wildfang and Burggraf for further operations in other groups and for return on 2-3 Mar in 47°N - 37°W.

At the same time, fueled Musenburg U-180 for trip to Indian Ocean to meet Japanese sub.

Zech U-119 fueled 8 subs of group Neuland for return on 12-18 Mar in 49°N - 29°W.

Czygan U-118 fueled 6 subs of group Unverzagt on 13-14 Mar in 35°N - 18°W. Subs became group Seerauber.

Wolfbauer U-463 fueled 11 subs of North Atlantic groups for further ops and return on 15-24 Mar in 49°N - 33°W.

Wolfbauer U-463 fueled 17 subs of North Atlantic groups for further ops and return on 30 Mar in 51°N - 31°W.

Achilles U-161
R/V'd B/R Regansburg on 24 Mar and B/R Pietro Orseolo on 26 Mar.

Grandefeld U-171 to R/V B/R Karin on 26 Mar to deliver op orders. Ship had been sunk.

Dahlhaus U-634,
Hornkohl U-566,
Friederich U-759, and Fiehn U-191 to report on enemy radar, air and sea search patrol groups in Denmark Straits for benefit of homeward bound B/R's.

-- 137 --

April 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Achilles U-161
No successes. After being sighted, very strong A/C and surface patrol. No freedom of action off coast. Forced to submerge by day.

Grandefeld U-174
No successes. Not much patrol until 2 days before passing convoy. Sunk 27 Apr in 44°N - 58°W.

Witt U-129
1 ship claimed sunk. Extensive sea defense off Bermuda, A/C defense, land radar.

Piening U-155
No report.

Maus U-185
No report.

Schaefer U-183
No traffic in central Caribbean.

Steinert U-128
No report.
Nissen U-105
No report.

Schroeber U-123
1 ship claimed sunk.

Henke U-515
1 ship claimed sunk. Constant day A/C patrol, land radar at night. Inexperienced patrol.

Lassen U-160
No report.

Claussen U-182
1 ship claimed sunk.

Wiebe U-516
No report.

Witte U-509
No report.

4 refuelers replenished 32 subs.

Wolfbauer U-463 fueled 9 subs returning from groups and outbound subs forming group Specht on 3-4 Apr in 51°N - 32°W.

Vowe U-462 fueled 12 U/B's returning from group ops and outbound subs forming group Adler on 8-14 Apr in 50°N - 30°W.

Neumann U-117 fueled 6 subs returning from ops in distant patrol area on 16-24 Apr in 28° to 30°N - 23° to 29°W.

Metz U-487 fueled 4 subs from group Larche on 19-26 Apr in 48°N - 34°W, subs then joined group Meise.

Franke U-262 laid mines off Halifx late Apr and early May.

Uphoff U-84 transmitted dummy messages to simulate several subs heading for 53°N - 47°W on 12-13 Apr.

Neumann U-117 laid mines off Tangier early April.

Grandefeld U-174 R/V'd B/R Irene 6 Apr, delivered op orders, received mail.

Becker U-218 laid mines off Lands End late Apr early May.

Kurer U-189 set out automatic weather  reporting buoys in mid-North Atlantic early Apr.

Dierksen U-176,
Steinett U-128,
Marks U-376, and
Franke U-262
met B/R Irene to escort her through Bay of Biscay 10 Apr. Ship was sunk.

-- 138 --

May 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Achilles U-161
A/C patrol too strong.

Witt U-129
1 ship claimed sunk. Strong A/C patrol by day. 2 searchers for 25 hours, No attack.

Dierksen U-176
Sunk 15 May in 23°N - 80°W.

Markworth U-66
No successes.

Wintermeyer U-190
No successes.

Bargsten U-521
Sunk 3 Jun after having been in area only about a week.

Uhlig U-520
No successes.

  Kusch U-154
7 ships claimed sunk. Forced off by A/C. Hit on ship; ship opened fire.

Steinett U-128
No successes. Sunk 17 May in 11°S - 36°W while pursuing convoy.

Nissen U-105
1 ship claimed sunk. Presumed sunk after having been provisioned on 19 May in 02°N - 23°W.

Schroeter U-123
2 ships claimed sunk.

Henke U-515
3 ships claimed sunk. Strong A/C patrol.

Kietz U-126
1 ship claimed sunk. No air or sea patrol.

Dommes U-178
contacted and damaged by A/C with radar.

Gysae U-177
3 ships claimed sunk.

Kentrat U-196
3 ships claimed sunk.

Hartmann U-198
3 ships claimed sunk. Attacked by A/C.

Buchholz U-195
No report.

6 refuelers provisioned 54 subs.

Stiebler U-461 fueled 5 subs for further group ops on 1-2 May in 51°N - 32°W.

Fueled 7 subs from group Amsel for return on 9-11 May in 51°N - 34°W.

Fueled 4 subs for further group ops on 13-15 May in 50°N - 30°W.

Wilamovitz U-459 fueled 1 sub returning from distant patrol area and 8 subs from group Elbe for return on 15 May in 44°N - 29°W.

Schnoor U-460 fueled 5 subs returning from distant patrol areas on 17-22 May in 02°N - 24°W.

Fueled Schneewind U-511 (Satsuki I) for trip to Japan on 25 May in 02°N - 24°W.

Kamecke U-119 fueled 6 subs from groups Iller and Mosel for return on 8-14 May in 45° to 50°N - 33° to 36°W.

Neumann U-117 gave remaining fuel to Schnoor U-460 on 4 May.

Wolfbauer U-463 sunk 15 May in 45°N - 10°W while outbound for fueling ops.

All provisioning groups told to keep special look-out for carrier planes and search groups.

Kamecke U-119
laid mines off Halifax end of May. Sunk while returning.

Reichenbach U-217
laid mines off Lands End mid-May.

Seibicke U-436
on task Cruiser.
(unidentified task)

-- 139 --

June 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Müller-Stöckheim U-67
Prompt defense after miss on ship south of Bermuda. Fired at by ship.

Bargten U-521
Sunk 3 Jun after having been in area about a week.

Uhlig U-527
No surface patrol in straights of Florida. Inexperienced A/C with radar. Off Miami trained pursuit by destroyer. Mission was not to sink ships but to report on shipping defense, etc. Sunk in Jul at fueling R/V by Bogue A/C.

Markworth U-66
Constant A/C patrol off Charleston area. Radar only at night. 1 ship claimed sunk.

Wintermeyer U-190
Continuous radar by day in whole Norfolk area.

Friederich U-759
1 sailing freighter claimed sunk.
Eick U-510
Arrived British Guiana coast late Jun.

Kummetat U-572
Arrived Trinidad - Georgetown area late June.

Emmermann U-172
1 ship claimed sunk off Brazil coast.

Kraus U-199
1200-tonner

Guggenburger U-513
1 ship claimed sunk off Brazil coast. No sea patrol, land based A/C.

Kusch U-154
Left British Guiana area early Jun. Metox out of order.

Cremmer U-333
Pursued by destroyer off Freetown, forced under.

Trotha U-306
No report.

Staats U-308
Arrived Takoradi - Lagos area late Jun.

Kietz U-126
Left Freetown area mid-Jun. Sunk in Biscay early Jul.

Henke U-515
Left Monrovia area mid-Jun. Reported very expert destroyer with a new kind of radar north of Monrovia. Numerous untrained escorts with convoys.

Zurmühlen U-600
Arrived Freetown area late Jun.

  3 refuelers provisioned 33 U/B's.

Bartke U-488
Fueled 14 U/Bs of group Trutz on 8-11 Jun in 29°N - 29°W to 37°N - 41°W, for further ops.

Fueled 4 U/Bs outbound for distant ops on 18-19 Jun in 35°N - 33°W.

Fueled 4 U/Bs outbound for ops in distant areas on 25 Jun in 37°N - 32°W. Had to take fuel from 3 U/Bs outbound from the north to do so.

Fueled 4 U/Bs outbound for ops in distant areas on 26 Jun in 38°N - 32°W from his own stocks.

Kameke U-119
Returned from laying mines off Halifax, fueled 2 U/Bs on 21 Jun in 45°N - 17°W.

Schnoor U-460
Returning from fueling R/V off coast of W. Africa, fueled 2 inbound U/Bs on 10-11 Jun, and turned over remaining fuel to Czygan U-118 on 10 Jun in 29°N - 25°W.

Refuelers sunk:
Czygan U-118, 12 Jun at fueling R/V by A/C from USS Bogue.

Kameke U-119, 24 Jun in Bay of Biscay.

Kameke U-119
Completed laying mines off Halifax, begun in May.

Stock U-214
Laid mines off Dakar.

Witzendorff U-650
and
Schroeteler U-667
Both sent dummy messages to simulate a provisioning group in the area of 57°N - 37° to 40°W.

-- 140 --

July 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Müller-Stöckheim U-67
Sunk enroute France.

Markworth U-66
1 ship claimed sunk south Bermuda. Damaged by artillery fire from ship. Heavily damaged at fueling R/V.

Wintermeyer U-190
Returned from Norfolk area end of Jul.

Uphoff U-84
Slight and inexperienced A/C without radar in Florida Straits. In Yucatan Straits heavy A/C without radar.

Brosin U-134
Shot down blimp in Florida Straits after blimp had badly damaged him. Attacked twice day later by A/C. Had to leave to repair. Sunk in Aug.

Friedrich U-759
2 ships claimed sunk. Sunk in area.

Kapitzky U-615
1 ship claimed sunk.

Meier U-415
Strong patrol, radar defenses everywhere in Trinidad area.

Dahlhaus U-634
Forced to leave San Juan area because of continuous night A/C with radar after having been detected.

Carlsen U-732
In Cuba area, weak night A/C, shore radar.

Beckmann U-159
Attacked by Fr. cruiser Gesorges Leygues outside area. Sunk in Caribbean.

Thäter U-466
Left op area after week because of man wounded in 2 A/C attacks. A/C hit.

Feiler U-653
Slight day A/C off British Guiana coast. Attacked by A/C, plane hit.

Dieterichs U-406
Attacked twice by A/C.

Eick U-510
Strong day and night A/C, strong radar 150 miles from British Guiana coast. 1 ship claimed sunk.

Krüer U-590
Sunk in op area. 1 ship claimed sunk.

Kummetat U-572
Strong night A/C with radar after being observed. 2 cargo schooners claimed sunk.

Emmermann U-172
3 ships claimed sunk. After firing at ship was forced off by defense.

Kraus U-199
Sunk in op area. 2 ships claimed sunk.

Guggenberger U-513
Sunk in op area. Unpracticed A/C only after being observed.

Cremer U-333
Chances of success in Freetown area poor.

Trotha U-306
Violent attacks by A/C and surface forces off Dakar. 4 ships claimed sunk.

Staats U-508
3 ships claimed sunk from convoy.

Lüssow U-571
Twice attacked, damaged off Monrovia.

Zurmühlen U-600
No report.

Schug U-86
Arrived late Jul.

Schamong U-468
Arrived late Jul.

Rahe U-257
Not to transmit from area (Cape Palmas).

Manke U-358
Solitary ops unfavorable in Takoradi area after full moon.

Deetz U-757
Forced off steamer by destroyer.

Baberg U-618
No report.

Klaus U-340
No report.

Koch U-382
No report.

  1 refueler provisioned 6 U/Bs.

Metx U-487, refueled 6 U/Bs eastbound for distant areas from 7-11 Jul in about 30°N - 36°W.

5 Monsun boats provisioned and fueled by 2 outbound U/Bs after sinking of 2 refuelers. One R/V on 22 Jul in 21°N - 33°W, another on 25-26 Jul.

Refuelers sunk:
Wilamovitz U-459, outbound in Biscay.

Vowe U-462, outbound in Biscay.

Metz U-486, at R/V by Core A/C.

Hornkohl U-566
Laid mines off Halifax.

Siegmann U-230
Laid mines off Halifax late Jul - early Aug.

Loeser U-373
Jeschonnek U-607
Köppe U-613
Were to lay mines off Kingston and Haiti, according to POW information. Loesser badly damaged, returned. Other two sunk.

-- 141 --

July 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
    Maus U-185
Convoy escorts not trained. After observed, day and night A/C. 4 ships claimed sunk.

Ziesmer U-591
Sunk just after having reached area.

Höltring U-604
Badly damaged. Commander wounded in A/C attack. U/B scuttled.

Holtorf U-598
Sunk day after reaching Brazil coast.

       

-- 142 --

August 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Hornkohl U-566
After mining op in New York area, 1 Destroyer claimed sunk. Unable to dive after A/C attack. A/C shot down.

Uphoff U-84
Left via Florida Straits early Aug. Sunk at R/V.

Kapitzky U-615
Sunk in area.

Neide U-415
Returned due to depth charge damage.

Dahlhaus U-634
Sunk at refueling R/V.

Carlsen U-732
1 ship claimed sunk.

Feiler U-653
Left British Guiana area early Aug.

Dietrichs U-406
Hunted for 12 hours without result.

Kummetat U-572
Sunk in area.

Emmermann U-172
Suspected sweep groups in area of R/V with 2 other U/Bs. R/V bombed.

Maus U-185
2 ships claimed sunk off Brazil. Twice bombed. A/C shot down. Dived crew of Höltring with Emmermann. Sunk at fueling R/V.

Höltring U-604
So badly damaged by bombs and depth charges that he had to scuttle.

Achilles U-161
Arrived Paranagua area late Aug.

Staats U-508
Left Takoradi area early Aug.

Zurmühlen U-600
Left Freetown area early Aug.

Schug U-86
Left Monrovia area early Aug.

Schamong U-468
Sunk Freetown area Aug.

Rahe U-257
Left Cape Palmas area Aug.

Fenn U-445
Left Cape Palmas area late Aug after 3 weeks in area because no refueling was possible.

Manke U-358
Left Takoradi area early Aug.

Deetz U-757
1 ship claimed sunk. Urged to continue ops, but left late Aug.

Baberg U-618
Left Monrovia area early Aug.

Klaus U-340
Left Freetown area mid-Aug.

Koch U-382
Left Liberian coast early Aug.

  No regular refuelers active.

Kuppisch U-847, enroute Far East, forced to fuel 6 U/Bs homeward bound from distant areas for most economical return on 14 Aug in 42°N - 29°W, and on 23 Aug in 28°N - 36°W. Sunk at R/V by A/C from USS Card.

Harpe U-129, outbound for ops, forced to fuel 5 U/Bs homeward bound from distant areas for most economical return on 17 Aug in 39°N - 35°W, and on 19 Aug in 27°N - 33°W.

Refuelers Sunk:
Neumann U-117, at R/V by A/C from USS Card.

Achilles U-161
Met Jap U/B I-8 (U-Flieder) on 30 Aug in about 39°N - 23°W to transfer German Pilot, instructions, etc.

Achilles went on to operate off Brazil.

Siegmann U-230
completed minelaying off Halifax early Aug.

-- 143 --

September 1943
Distant Patrol Areas  
N. Amer. Coast Caribbean S. Amer. Coast W. African Coast Capetown Refuelings Special Tasks
Wissmann U-518
Arrived Florida Straits end of Sep.
  Schroeter U-123
Must return from Georgetown - Paramaribo area without refueling. Constant A/C with convoys. Forced under by A/C.

Achilles U-161
2 ships claimed sunk. Sunk late Sep off Brazil coast.

    1 refueler provisioned 9 U/Bs.

Schnoor U-460, fueled 5 U/Bs outbound to join group Leuthen on 10 Sep in 45°N - 29°W.

Fueled 1 U/B outbound to distant areas on 16 Sep in 43°N - 32°W.

Fueled 3 U/Bs outbound to join group Rossbach on 25 Sep in 46°N - 29°W.

Simmermacher U-107
Special task (minelaying) in Cape Henry and Cape Hattaras area early Sep.

Stock U-214
Laid mines off the Panama Canal late Sep.

--144--

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